Ian Mckellen Speaks Out At Australian Gay Rights Rally

5/17/2010 10:30am EDT

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Ian McKellen attended a gay rights rally in Australia on Sunday, where he urged government officials to allow same-sex marriage Down Under.

The veteran star took a break from his current Waiting for Godot tour to join the gathering outside Melbourne's State Library, which was organized to raise awareness for International Day Against Homophobia on Monday. The British actor argued the right to marry would "change lives" of gay couples who want to make their union official - and would also boost the country's image.

He said, "Establishing the rights for gay people to be married would cost the Australian government nothing financially and would gain for you worldwide respect from people like us and of course would change lives enormously - the lives of gay people and of their friends and of their families and therefore of Australia as a whole. It's all done on the simple principle that gay people are all born unique but we are all born equal with the rest of the people and the law simply must not discriminate."

Pregnant pop star Dannii Minogue also voiced her support for the cause, adding, "Our government continues to ban same-sex marriages and gay, lesbian and transgender communities remain second-class citizens. I think the next generation will look back on this issue and wonder what all the fuss is about.''